REPORT ON THE OPEN COMMISSION MEETINGS (BUSINESS MEETINGS)
Chair: Professor R K Moore (USA)
Vice-Chair: Mr M P M Hall (UK)
The Commission held three Open Committee Meetings, respectively on 29 and 30 August and 3 September 1996. The following items were discussed at the meetings:
1. Election of Vice-Chairman
National Chairs had voted for Vice-Chair by mail and were given the opportunity to change their vote. Credentials of those voting were checked. (A marking of two points for first choice and one point for second choice was used.) The following names were proposed to the Council, in order of preference:
1. Y Furuhama (Japan)
2. M Hallikainen (Finland)
Prof. Moore confirmed that Mr Hall would become Chairman at the conclusion of the General Assembly.
{The Council subsequently confirmed the appointment of Dr Furuhama.}
2. 1996 General Assembly Programme
Commission F organised 10 scientific oral-prediction sessions of invited papers
(and a poster session), namely (with convenors shown in parentheses):
Having invited papers distinguishes Commission F sessions at the General Assembly from those at the Triennial Meetings (which are held in the year before General Assemblies). No session was considered appropriate for a special issue of a journal.
Joint sessions were:
Commission F tutorial lecture: Impact of numerical methods on propagation modelling (K H Craig (UK) )
3. Council, Coordinating Committee and Round Table issues
3.1 Commission Assistant Editors
Prof Moore said Dr W R Stone sought from each commission an Associate Editor for the Radio Science Bulletin to solicit two papers per year (e.g. radiowave propagation and remote sensing for Commission F), and to arrange full refereeing. No one volunteered at the time, but Mr J P V Poiares Baptista later offered his services, which were accepted.
3.2 Duration of future General Assemblies
All commissioners have been invited to consider whether to retain the present duration of Assemblies (7 working days comprising opening session, 12 oral sessions, [[Omega]] day poster session and closing session) or to support a proposed change (registration and opening session on Sunday, 12 oral sessions (Monday-Saturday), parallel poster sessions and closing Saturday evening). It was felt that poster sessions should be at a time when authors could be present without clashing with other sessions. On a show of hands, 12 were in favour of retaining the current length and 16 in favour of shortening by some means; this was communicated to the Council (who later decided on a 7 working day event). It was agreed that it was better to mix the order of sessions rather than to have radiowave propagation and remote sensing at opposite ends of the period. Prof A Paraboni stressed the need to retain tutorials; Prof A R Holt felt a lower registration fee resulting from a shorter meeting would encourage more people to come. Mr J P V Poiares Baptista sought single-day registrations.
3.3 Terms of Reference
After some discussion, all attendees agreed to maintain the current Terms of Reference. This was communicated to the Council.
3.4 Publicity for Young Scientists' Grants
The Co-ordinating Committee pressed all who could to give publicity to the Young Scientists Scheme. There had been 120 this time. Awards were given only to successful applicants who were also on the programme. All Young Scientists received a certificate. Prof P A Watson sought reduced registration fees for all under 35, whether awarded Young Scientist grants or not. Dr A R Webster sought for Young Scientist funding to be available only when essential. Prof Moore felt Young Scientists funding was needed both for developing and developed countries.
3.5 Publicity for Radio Science Bulletin
Prof Moore urged all those present to encourage their libraries to subscribe to Radio Science Bulletin and other URSI publications.
4. Interassembly meetings
4.1 Commission F meetings in last triennium
Commission F was sponsor or co-sponsor of 14 meetings between the 1993 and 1996 URSI General Assemblies. Below are shown meetings, locations, dates and Modes (where Mode A has the name of URSI and logo, but no URSI money; Mode B has a grant (typically 2000 USD) from Commission F, but only for participation of individual scientists, Mode C is a major conference with direct involvement of URSI headquarters in management and budget with significant support (typically 5000 USD), and share in any profits).
The main Commission F meeting between URSI General Assemblies is the Commission F Open Symposium, held this time in Ahmedabad, India in November 1995 (Mode B).
Commission F, as usual, co-sponsored with IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society three International Geoscience Remote Sensing Symposia (IGARSSs); these, the largest remote sensing meetings, continue to draw more than 1000 papers. IGARSS'94 was held in Pasadena, Ca., USA in August 1994 (Mode B), IGARSS'95 was held in Florence, Italy in July 1995 (Mode C), and IGARSS'96 was held in Lincoln, Ne., USA in July 1996 (Mode A).
In addition, Electromagnetic Scattering from Gasses and Plasmas was held in Aussois, France in March 1994 (Mode B) and Microwave Signatures was held in Lawrence, Ka., USA in May 1994 (Mode B).
Climpara'94 was held in Moscow, Russia in May-June 1994 (Mode B) and Climpara'96 in Oslo, Norway in June 1996 (Mode B).
Other meetings co-sponsored with other groups, including other URSI commissions, were Physics and Engineering of mm and submm Waves held in Kharkov, Ukraine in June 1994 (Mode A), International Conference on Antennas and Propagation (ICAP'95) held in Eindhoven, Netherlands in April 1995 (Mode A), Workshop on Atmosphere Research Applications using Observations based on the GPS/GLONASS System held in Copenhagen, Denmark in June 1995 (Mode A), International Conference on Radio Science (ICRS'95) held in Beijing, China in August 1995 (Mode A), International Workshop on Direct and Inverse EM Scattering held in Turkey in September 1995 (Mode A) and Retrieval of Geo- and Bio-Parameters from SAR Data for Land Applications held in Toulouse, France in October 1995 (Mode A).
4.2 Proposed Commission F meetings for next triennium
Most of the following meetings were mentioned during Commission F business, but a few have been added since.
No clear opinion was expressed as to the venue for the Commission F Triennial meeting. A joint meeting with Commission C on Mobile and Personal Communications was being considered.
4.3 Responsibilities of URSI representative at meetings sponsored by Comm. F
Prof Moore emphasised the importance of the role of Commission F representatives. This is:
For all modes: ensure URSI involvement clear, logo etc. - especially in Call for Papers, etc.; participate in organising committee, especially for technical programme; provide call-for- papers and report on the meeting for URSI's Radio Science Bulletin: and keep Commission F Chairman fully informed of developments.
For Modes B and C: organise invitation of URSI-funded scientists (if Mode B); possibly speak in opening session, banquet, etc; report to URSI Bulletin and Secretariat, copied to Commission F Chairman.
For Mode C and for major Mode B events: arrange for registration fees to be increased by 40 USD for all non-URSI correspondents, to be remitted to URSI headquarters with a list of those who paid it. Those paying then become URSI correspondents and receive the Radio Science Bulletin, etc. This is agreed not to apply to IGARSS'97 in Singapore, but should apply for other ìlargeî meetings, such as IGARSS.
5. 1999 General Assembly
5.1 Proposals for sessions and organisers
Many proposals for sessions were put forward (some after the business meetings) by Mr B Arbesser-Rastburg, Prof W-M Boerner, Prof D T Gjessing, Mr M P M Hall, Prof M T Hallikainen, Dr H Ottl, Dr D A Noon, Mr J P V Poiares Baptista, Mr T Tjelta and Prof P A Watson. These proposals would need rationalisation and grouping together.
In view of the Triennial Open Symposia (covering all Commission F topic areas), it was agreed to maintain Commission F tradition of compact invited-paper sessions on specific subjects and allow broader allocation of contributed papers for posters.
Statements were made for and against parallel sessions. This might depend on the length of the Assembly and the number of rooms available.
5.2 Proposals for joint sessions with other commissions
Several people expressed concern about Sessions C4 and F10 being in parallel on ìMobile and Personal Communicationsî; this was an unfortunate accident. Proposals for joint activity were reported to Commission F. It was felt that time would allow only one session on this.
Mr J P V Poiares Baptista reported that Commission G had held Session G3 relevant to WG FG1. He suggested sessions from Commissions F and G on aspects of using GPS. Again there may be room for only one session, possibly let by Commission G.
Dr D A Noon subsequently suggested a joint Commission F and G session led by Commission F on Techniques and Applications for Sub-surface Remote Sensing.
5.3 Proposals for tutorial topics and speakers
None were proposed, but Prof Moore requested proposals be sent to Mr Hall.
5.4 Proposals for general lectures and lecturers
Prof Moore recommended that Dr K H Craig be invited to give a General Lecture.
6. Intercommission Working Groups
Prof Moore mentioned that these automatically end at a General Assembly unless renewed by Resolution to Council (see below). It was felt that results from Working Groups should be made known through the Radio Science Bulletin, E.mail or URSI www pages, as well as in reports to the Council.
6.1 WG FG1 (Middle Atmosphere)
Resolution U16 established the continuity of WG FG1. Prof Moore outlined the position. Copies of Resolutions F1 and F2 were distributed, discussed and agreed on a show of hands, nem con. {Commission G passed Resolutions G3 and G2, which are of a rather different form.} The Commission F representative would continue to be Prof C H Liu.
6.2 AFG1 (GPS/GLONASS)
Dr F Solheim (USA) had agreed to be the Commission F representative and was named in Resolution U13 which established the continuity of WG AFG1.
6.3 Others
Commission F felt there was no need for a WG with Commission C on Personal and Mobile Communications, as there were already proposals for joint sessions and possibly a joint symposium.
7. Representatives to other organisations
7.1 IGBP (International Geosphere Biosphere Programme)
Prof Moore said this enormous organisation produced vast quantities of paper that were difficult to keep up with - no direct representation was felt necessary. URSI interests are looked after by Prof R K Rainey.
7.2 SCOR (Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research)
Commission F interests are looked after by Prof D T Gjessing.
7.3 SCAR (Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research)
Commission F interests are looked after by Prof M J Rycroft.
7.4 IUCAF (Inter-Union Committee on Frequency Allocations for Radioastronomy and Space Research
Prof W Keydel and Mr J P V Poiares Baptista agreed to represent Commission F; they were anxious to see frequencies reserved for remote sensing (of atmosphere and ground, both active and passive) in addition to those for radio astronomy. The WG plans to meet during the next triennium to discuss frequency allocations. Remote sensing interests should be stressed, possibly by a change of words in the terms of reference.
7.5 COSPAR (Committee on Space Research)
Mr J P V Poiares Baptista looks after Commission F interests. Mention was made of a resolution from COSPAR about preservation of spectrum for astronomical radio science and atmospheric environmental science. {This was later adopted as Resolution U22 after addition of remote sensing of the Earth's surface.}
7.6 SCT (Scientific Committee for Telecommunications)
Copies of STC questions were handed out; no changes or additions were proposed. Dr K A Hughes said these were guidelines and could easily be changed as necessary. Mr Hall commented on an SCT meeting held on 30 August which was attended by Prof Moore, Prof M S Assis, Dr K A Hughes, Dr V Kvicera and himself. Consideration had been given to Terms of Reference and Guidelines, to URSI having a stronger voice in ITU-R, to Commsphere, to putting the current list of questions on both the URSI and ITU-R www pages outlining topics of mutual interest, to the value of new URSI handbook on propagation in developing countries, etc. Formal technical inputs to ITU-R Study Groups should formally be through Commission Chairmen.
The Council subsequently agreed to endorse a new Intercommission Working Group on Wireless Communication (Resolution U11), but to terminate the STC. The STC actions of intent to Commission F, as outlined in Resolution U12, were transferred to the new Working Group.
7.7 Contact persons for GWEX (Global Energy and Water Exchange), GPCP (Global Precipitation Climatology Project), etc.
It was not felt necessary to formally identify people to look after Commission F interests, but Mr J P V Poiares Baptista is strongly involved.
8. Publications
8.1 Reviews of Radio Science
It was agreed to continue the policy of having review chapters corresponding to most General Assembly session topics and for the session co-ordinators to write the chapters. Prof P A Watson noted that the number of chapters may depend on the Council decision on the duration of the next General Assembly. It was agreed that the new Vice-Chairman be the editor for Commission F.
8.2 Disk
Prof Moore expressed appreciation for the work undertaken by Prof Y Hosoya and the National Representatives in preparing the disk of references. Prof P A Watson said Prof Hosoya had made the job relatively easy for National Representatives. Those representatives present agreed to undertake the work again for 1999. Copies of the first page were distributed for information. Only four persons present said they made use of the disk, but it was felt useful. An overwhelming number felt it useful to have the content available of the URSI www pages. (This was later agreed by Dr W R Stone.) {Outside the meeting, Dr R L Olsen agreed to be disk editor for Commission F.}
9. Any other business
Prof G O Ajayi drew attention to the recent handbook entitled ìRadio propagation related to satellite communications in tropical and subtropical countriesî, which had been produced by the URSI Standing Committee on Developing Countries - it had particular relevance to Commission F.